Recycling is GREAT, but it is still better to use less.
PAPER
1) Generally, anything made of paper can be recycled.
2) Those items that specifically CANNOT be recycled include...
- Freezer boxes, butter boxes, ice cream containers, take-out containers (These are impregnated or lined with
a plastic moisture barrier)
- Paper bags lined with plastic that contain pet food, cat litter, coffee and other products.
- Waxed paper (wax makes paper un-recyclable)
- Photographs (chemical coatings on photos are not recyclable)
- Tissues, napkins or paper towels (residues on these contaminate recycling processes)
- Food contaminated paper or cardboard (food particles and greases/oils leave residues that are
contaminants and aren't recyclable)
- Paper cups (they are lined with plastic which makes them un-recyclable & un-compostable, too)
- Cereal and cracker box liners (these are plastic or waxed paper)
- Plastic envelopes (Tyvek®, etc.) and plastic-lined mailers Mailers that are a combination of paper and plastic
(such as paper lined with bubble wrap).
- Hard cover or paperback books (the binding glue is a contaminant and makes books difficult to recycle)
2) Those items that specifically CANNOT be recycled include...
- Freezer boxes, butter boxes, ice cream containers, take-out containers (These are impregnated or lined with
a plastic moisture barrier)
- Paper bags lined with plastic that contain pet food, cat litter, coffee and other products.
- Waxed paper (wax makes paper un-recyclable)
- Photographs (chemical coatings on photos are not recyclable)
- Tissues, napkins or paper towels (residues on these contaminate recycling processes)
- Food contaminated paper or cardboard (food particles and greases/oils leave residues that are
contaminants and aren't recyclable)
- Paper cups (they are lined with plastic which makes them un-recyclable & un-compostable, too)
- Cereal and cracker box liners (these are plastic or waxed paper)
- Plastic envelopes (Tyvek®, etc.) and plastic-lined mailers Mailers that are a combination of paper and plastic
(such as paper lined with bubble wrap).
- Hard cover or paperback books (the binding glue is a contaminant and makes books difficult to recycle)
PLASTIC
1) Plastic bottles, jugs and jars-any container with a threaded neck (for a screw-on lid) or neck narrower than the
base. This includes milk jugs, peanut butter jars, bottles from grooming and cleaning products, not just food
(shampoo, cleansers, laundry soap, etc.).
2) Plastic tubs: 6 ounces or larger, marked with either a 2 or 5, are usually round with a wider rim than base and
contain products such as salsa, margarine, cottage cheese, hummus, etc.
3) Planting/nursery pots, larger than four inches in diameter and made of rigid (rather than crinkly or flexible)
plastic.
base. This includes milk jugs, peanut butter jars, bottles from grooming and cleaning products, not just food
(shampoo, cleansers, laundry soap, etc.).
2) Plastic tubs: 6 ounces or larger, marked with either a 2 or 5, are usually round with a wider rim than base and
contain products such as salsa, margarine, cottage cheese, hummus, etc.
3) Planting/nursery pots, larger than four inches in diameter and made of rigid (rather than crinkly or flexible)
plastic.